MENTAL ILLNESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 July 1939, Page 5

MENTAL ILLNESS

CAUSED BY SLIMMING TABLETS

LONDON, June 1. A formerly robust girl of 17, who, it was stated, developed a passion for slimming and took a large quantity of tablets which caused a form of mental illness, was charged at Leamington yesterday with stealing £|/S/- from a handbag belonging to Miss Molly Mitchell, at the Bath Hotel, Leamington. The girl had given the name of Helen Burke, and had described herself as an artist’s model, living in London, but in court she said her real name was Beatrice Helen Butteridge, of Park-road, Coventry. She pleaded guilty.

The Acting Chief Constable said that the girl had been living happily with her parents. She matriculated and had had .several occupations in Coventry, in which she showed promise.

Recently, he said, she appeared to have lost interest in her work, and had left her post of her own accord. She had formed a morbid interest in slimming and spent all her money on tablets, which she took in exorbitant doses.

The result, he added, was that she had. developed a neurotic condition. Her father said she was formerly a robust, girl, and it was some time before they discovered the serious effect the tablets were having. The girl was bound over for two year.-; on condition that she enters an institution for expert treatment.